LAWRENCE, Kan. — Coach Turner Gill, coming off one of the most embarrassing losses Kansas has had in decades, said Tuesday he’ll wait before making a decision at quarterback.
Kale Pick, last year’s backup, got the start in the season opener. But he was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Jordan Webb as North Dakota State handed Kansas a shocking 6-3 loss that brought boos raining down on Gill’s inaugural game as head coach.
The Jayhawks host No. 15 Georgia Tech on Saturday. They have lost eight in a row going back to last year’s seven-game losing streak.
Pick and Webb were both ineffective against North Dakota State, which was picked no higher than sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference and held the Jayhawks to just three points.
Offensive coordinator Chuck Long said the Jayhawks were still trying to decide on several offensive positions. Whoever settles in at quarterback will be replacing the most prolific quarterback in team history in Todd Reesing. Also gone are Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, the two most productive wide receivers Kansas ever had.
“We’re not set in stone with every position yet,” said Long. “That’s the bottom line with our offense. We don’t have a decisive 11 yet. We’re still working toward chemistry. It may take a little time to get to that point.”
Gill, Long and the rest of the staff all arrived last winter after Mark Mangino resigned amid accusations that he mistreated his players.
Getting a good handle on the players’ strengths and weaknesses is taking a while.
“Now we have a better picture based on game one. Each game will give us that,” Long said.
Against North Dakota State, Pick was 13 for 22 for 138 yards, with one interception. Web was 6 of 11 for 59 yards.
“The quarterback position didn’t have a great game,” said Long. “We made our share of mistakes. There were some positives there, too. There are some examples of them standing in the pocket and taking some hits and keeping their concentration down the field which I thought was pretty impressive for young quarterbacks. For brand new quarterbacks, that was pretty impressive.”
